The Effect of Elementary Schools on Language

  Over about a year and a half, Dr. Neelima Wagley and James R. Booth tested young children during two different time periods to get a better understanding of how our behaviours related to understanding and communicating through spoken language and certain regions of our brain influence one another. Before building a house on a…

Greater Social Engagement and Greater Gray Matter Microstructural Integrity in Brain Regions Relevant to Dementia

In recent years, research has been discovering that social engagement (SE), such as performing purposeful activities in life, meeting with friends and family, attending social gatherings, and engaging in recreational activities, can provide great benefits for the human aging process. More specifically, SE can help protect us against cognitive impairment, such as dementia, as we…

Does COVID-19 damage the Central Nervous System (CNS)?

In March of 2020, the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) took over the world from Wuhan, China. One of the first known effects of this virus was that it was attacking our respiratory system with breathing and chest pain being two of the more serious symptoms. Covid-19 has become a fatal virus with inevitably no known cure;…

A Single Session of Moderate Intensity Exercise Influences Memory, Endocannabinoids and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Men.

Regular physical activity is a lifestyle factor known to benefit neuroplasticity and neurocognitive functions. Regular exercise enhances memory functions, synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Evidence suggests that BDNF influences hippocampal synaptic plasticity. This is shown as physical exercise increases BDNF, mRNA and protein levels in the hippocampus but blocking…

Cocaine Addiction and Gender-Specific Associations: Is there an Interaction Effect Between Gender and Cocaine Dependance on Brain Structure and Grey Matter Volume?

Use of cocaine, like other drugs of abuse, induces long-term changes in the brain. Brain imaging studies have repeatedly revealed altered brain structure among individuals with substance use disorder and addiction. Structural abnormalities related to cocaine addiction have been most seen in the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is a structure composed of several sub-regions-regions,…

Exercising and Psychoeducation Bettering the Mental Heath of Adolescence

Adolescents with mood disorders including depression can have a difficult time trying to deal with their mood disorder, but a new study can help. Exercising and psychoeducation a few times, a week could have promising effects to better the mood of the adolescent. Psychoeducation consists of group games, poetry reading, and singing. When the only…

Can the Secretome of Mesenchymal Stem Cells be Used to Effectively Treat Alzheimer’s Disease?

Can the Secretome of Mesenchymal Stem Cells be Used to Effectively Treat Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer’s disease is one of the many forms that dementia can come in and is the most prevalent form of dementia in the elderly population. Alzheimer’s results in clots formed in the brain due to a product known as beta-amyloid. Alzheimer’s…

Proposed Mechanism and Routes of Action Of COVID-19 Induced Neurological Dysfunction

Proposed Mechanism and Routes of Action Of COVID-19  Induced Neurological Dysfunction           COVID-19, arguably one of the greatest public health crises of the generation, is misinterpreted commonly and thought by many to only affect our respiratory (breathing) system due to the overwhelming damage it is capable of causing to our lungs.…

Does COVID-19 Damage the Central Nervous System?

            In early 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) suddenly impacted lives across the globe. We rushed to adapt our everyday lives as the world went into panic mode. Quarantine, isolation, and social distancing were terms we were to soon become familiar with. COVID-19 was and continues to be life-threatening and…

The Hippocampus and Trace Fear Memory: Formation and Retrieval

The development of trace fear memories is considered a declarative task (generally referring to the act of naming something). This requires higher brain functions (e.g. attention, conscious awareness) and multiple brain regions, including the hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. Previously, it was unclear how brain cells (termed “neurons”) involved in memory behave before learning,…

Blood Pressure and Dementia: Are You at Risk?

Mental disorders. It seems like everyone knows someone who suffers from one affliction or another. Some worse than others, though one can attest that dementia associated with brain aging is one of the most painful afflictions to witness. Most frequently characterized by memory loss, personality changes and impaired mental reasoning. Resulting in suffering individuals completely…

The Role of Serotonin Transporters in Tourette Syndrome and OCD

Tourette Syndrome is a disorder characterized by repeating motor movements and/or verbal tics that are not easily suppressed. It is common for people with Tourette Syndrome to have additional conditions such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and anxiety disorder. The simultaneous presence of Tourette Syndrome and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) has been of interest…

Incorporating Exercise and Mindfulness into Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a commonly diagnosed disorder among older adults. Despite its high prevalence, treatment options are limited. Physical exercise is often prescribed as treatment as it has the potential to relieve pain. Although the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood, studies have shown that incorporating mindfulness into an exercise program may also have…

Altering Sharp Wave Ripples Leads to Improved Memory

Recent research has increased our understanding of the mechanics of memory and how the brain can improve memory when needed. The focus of the research was based around sharp wave ripples (SPW-Rs). These ripples can be thought of as waves that activate pathways that store and later form memories. SPW-Rs are found in the region…

The Connection Between GABA and Parkinson’s Disease

To understand Parkinson’s Disease, it is important to understand the brain and its function related to the disease. Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive disease of the Central Nervous System, progressive meaning that symptoms, such as slowness of movement (bradykinesia), stiffness and tremors, and more will progress and worsen overtime. When dopamine producing neurons in a…

Differences in the ADHD Brain

Have you ever done something without thinking of the consequences that come along with that action? Many individuals who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often impulsive, meaning that they do and say things without thinking. ADHD is the most common diagnosed disorder in children, affecting 3-7% worldwide. It is characterized by symptoms of…

Dancing, Movement, Memory

As a dancer I have been interested in not only the athleticism it takes to execute given choreography but also the demands it places on the attention and memory to learn and remember such choreography. Dance, is a unique activity that requires a dancer to learn, remember, and execute a series of complex sequences. As…